Parsiana sources information for the Milestones column from various anjumans, hospitals, individuals, newsletters and publications. While much of the material is sketchy, the Bombay marriages and death lists are quite exhaustive.
Data on marriages within the community in Bombay is culled four times in a year from the office of the Registrar of Marriages at the Bombay High Court and on interfaith unions from the Registrar of Marriages offices at Fort and Khar. There may be an inadvertent repetition of names in the marriage list when a civil marriage precedes a religious ceremony.
The list of the deceased with the causes of deaths for those consigned to the Doongerwadi in Bombay is provided by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet with a disclaimer that the information has not been verified or authenticated by them. The Worli Prayer Hall sends Parsiana names of those cremated there.
A few names of those deceased in July 2023 find mention here as well as those who passed away till August 4.
In the break-up of Bombay Doongerwadi deaths, especially of the elderly, death is often due to a combination of several diseases.
Causes of deaths for July 2023: Nine of the 11 who lost their lives due to various diseases of the heart were 80 years and over. While pneumonia/lung disease killed eight Zoroastrians, six fell prey to diabetes, five to brain disease and four to septicemia. Three lives were victims of kidney failure and two each to multi organ failure, hypertension, Parkinson’s disease, cancer and urosepsis. Old age/general debility and liver disease felled one patient each. A centenarian at 103 (female) was the oldest to breathe her last, the youngest was a 40-year-old man. The mean age at death of Zoroastrians for July 2023 in Bombay was 80 years. The life expectancy at birth for males was 78 years and for females, 86 years.
Parsiana also receives death intimations from the Poona Parsi Panchayat, Parsi Zoroastrian Anjuman of Secunderabad and Hyderabad, The Surat Parsi Panchayat Funds and Properties Trust, Jhansi Parsi Anjuman, Nagpur Parsi Punchayet, Zoroastrian Society of Ontario, Fram Framji of Karachi, Dr Ardeshir Damania of California and Arnavaz Sethna of Houston.
Data on births in Bombay is made available by the Breach Candy Hospital. Births in other hospitals and private nursing homes are included when an individual sends us information together with a copy of the birth certificate.
If readers have any births/ marriages/deaths they would like published, they are welcome to write to/email us. Some proof to ensure the veracity of the report would be necessary. We are sure our readers would appreciate this requirement.
Bombay
born
A boy to Danish and Meherab Vakil on July 1, 2023
A girl to Asmi Jalejar; July 11
A boy to Rukshana and Piran Gandhi; July 21
A boy to Shanaya and Aalay Parikh; July 24
died
consigned
Kali Darabsha Kapadia (78), residing at 601, Balaji Tower, V. P. Rd, 14-B, Santacruz (W), 400054; July 2
Kersi Bahadur Balsara (58), son of late Hilla and late Bahadur and brother of Dinyar and Zubin J. Billimoria, Room no 39, 189, Petit Bldg, Alibhai Premji Rd, opp Grant Rd Stn, 400007; July 6
Rusi Keki Jabbar (67), husband of Kajal and son of late Dhan and Keki, 22, J. N. Modi Co-op Hsg Soc, off M. C. Caves Rd, Andheri (E), 400093; July 30
Aspi Jehangirji Pithawalla (79), son of late Soonamai and late Jehangirji and brother of Keki, Adi, Jimmy and late Bahadur, 701/1-C, Salsette Parsi Clny, Andheri (E), 400093; July 30
Freny Baman Limzerwala (92), wife of Baman, daughter of late Najamai and Peshotan Limzerwalla, mother of
Maharukh Dinyar Madon, Mona Tehmurasp Sakloth, Firdos and Roxana Porus
Vajifdar and sister of Villoo Sam Mistry, Farrokh Limzerwalla and late Pervez Limzerwalla, 2/4, A. H.Wadia Baug Co-op Hsg Soc, Parel Tank Rd, Kalachowki, 400033; July 31
Pestonji Sawaksha Bardi (85), husband of late Gool, son of late Najamai and Sawaksha, father of Zenobia Dahnesh Dilkhush and Vohuman and brother of late Vilu and Dhun, 2B/40, Ratan Ngr, Four Bglws, Andheri (W), 400053; August 1
Zarin Sam Marfatia (68), wife of late Sam, daughter of late Mani and Dinshaw Khodaiji and mother of Dilnawaz Percy Contractor, Todiwalla Bldg, 20, Sopari Baug, Parel, 400012; August 1
Firoze Hormusji Patva (79), husband of Rati, son of late Banubai and Hormusji, father of Viraf Dara Bhagwagar and brother of late Minocher and Hoshang, 9, Parsi Punchayet Cottage, August Kranti Marg, 400026; August 1
Tehmurasp Darabsha Khambatta (95), husband of Nergish, son of late Dinamai and Darabsha, father of Mehernosh and Zareen Tirandaz Billimoria and brother of late Hoshang, 10, Umargaon Bldg, Dr B. A. Rd, Parel, 400012; August 3
Homi Nariman Kotwal (66), husband of Daisy, son of Homai and late Nariman, father of Arnavaz and Jasmine and brother of Aspi and Farida Behram Kotwal, 27, Patel Apts, Agiary Lane, Jambli Naka, Thana (W), 400601; August 3
Nergish Behram Unwala (92), wife of late Behram, daughter of late Mithamai and Fardoonji Panthaky, mother of Dadabhai and Maneck and sister of late Freny Jal Pacca and late Keki Panthaky, 1, Guzder Hse, Bhulabhai Desai Rd, Breach Candy, 400026; August 3
Freny Jal Adajania (87),
wife of late Jal, daughter of late Najamai and late Shapoorji Panthaky, mother of Mahrukh and Ruxana and sister of late Dhun Mistry, A-22, Kalpataru Habitat, Dr S. S. Rao Rd, Parel, 400012; August 4
Freny Burjor Goiporia (95), wife of late Burjor, daughter of late Khorshed and late Kerman Kapadia, mother of Homeyar and sister of Naju Bunshah, late Burjor Kapadia, late Jimmy Kapadia and late Aloo Driver, 201/A, Sky Flama, Dosti Flamingos, T. J. Rd, Sewree, 400 015; August 4
Nariman Jehangir Poojiaji (84), husband of late Leelabehn, son of late Avabai and late Jehangirji and brother of late Sam and Roshan, 690, N. E. Dinshaw Home, Dinshaw Master Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar (E), 400014; August 4
cremated
Arjasp Merwan Havewala (77), husband of Ruby, son of late Gordafrid and late Merwan, father of Porus and Farzad and brother of Ramyar, late Behram, Pehrezad, Parvez, Aadil, Minocher and Khurshedcheher, 89, Andheri Kurla Rd, above Roop Kamal Photo Studio, Chakala
MIDC, Andheri (E), 400093; August 1
body donated
Rustom (Russi) Sorabji
Cooper (101), husband of late June and father of Dinaz Hoshang Jhaveri; July 31
• • •
Figures for Bombay
January 1-August 4, 2023
Marriages: 63
Parsi: 40
Interfaith: 23
Males married out: 12
Females married out: 11
Deaths: 406
Consigned to dakhmas: 365
Males: 182, Females: 183
Cremated: 41
Males: 19, Females: 22
Compiled by Roxan A. Driver